Streamlining Charger Onboarding with Zero Config

Zero Config is an automated solution designed to simplify the setup and commissioning of residential electric vehicle chargers. The system replaces manual steps with a guided application workflow that manages the onboarding process from installation to activation. Our integration layer handles the data exchange between internal systems and the installer interface to ensure reliable connectivity. This project demonstrates how automated workflows improve installation efficiency and reduce technical errors in the field.

Business-Driven Innovation

The Zero Config solution was developed in close collaboration with our client, who sought a more streamlined and error-proof process for residential charger deployment. Their operational teams needed a way to reduce manual coordination, avoid data inconsistencies, and enable faster activation times while keeping the field experience simple and guided.

In response to these needs, our integration layer was extended and adapted to support an end-to-end flow that automates data handling, validation, and commissioning. This ensured that the solution aligned precisely with real-world requirements, and delivered tangible improvements across systems, processes, and field operations.

From Factory to Functionality – A Fully Connected Journey

Each charger arrives preconfigured from the manufacturer with key parameters like network credentials, identity keys, and backend communication paths. This eliminates the need for any setup on-site.

Once the charger is powered, it connects to the backend automatically. However, at this point, the system recognises the device but has no information about its location or ownership.

Through the Zero Config flow, the installer bridges that gap.

Field-First Simplicity via the Installer App

The installation process is designed to be seamless and fully guided through a secure web application tailored for installers. Once the charger is physically installed and powered on, the application automatically retrieves all necessary data from multiple systems ranging from project details to customer and site information. The interface then walks the installer through a verification and validation process, ensuring that all components of the installation are correctly aligned.

Any potential adjustments or additions required during installation are handled within the same workflow. Technical validation steps and compliance checks are embedded in the process, allowing for real-time feedback and ensuring readiness for commissioning.

Once all validations are passed, the charger is commissioned through a fully automated flow, with all configurations and registrations happening behind the scenes. The integration layer orchestrates communication across systems to ensure that the charger is correctly linked to its site, customer, and technical settings without exposing any underlying complexity to the installer.

Automated Orchestration Behind the Scenes

When the installer submits the required information the integration layer seamlessly takes over by retrieving and validating order and customer details It then proceeds to create or update the associated site and charger records while securely storing any uploaded installation media Simultaneously the process triggers the configuration and activation of the charger Behind the scenes the data flows through multiple backend systems each handling a specific part of the overall process such as customer management infrastructure records or charger control The integration logic orchestrates and coordinates all these activities in real time to ensure a smooth and reliable commissioning experience

Commissioning Done Right – Just in Time

The Zero Config process embraces a just-in-time commissioning approach, ensuring chargers are registered in the core backend systems only after they have been physically installed, powered on, and verified on-site. This strategy prevents common challenges such as duplicate or inaccurate entries, missing serial numbers, and incorrect customer or site assignments. By focusing on commissioning only devices that have been confirmed in the field, the system maintains clean, accurate, and consistent records across all platforms, supporting reliable operations and management throughout the charger lifecycle.

Results and Impact

Zero Config delivers clear value:

Reduced time on site for installers
Fewer support cases caused by data mismatches
Faster time-to-activation for end users
Better data quality across systems

The integration layer ensures that all systems stay synchronised, while the installer enjoys a streamlined experience focused only on what matters in the field.

Outcome

Zero Config is a smart, scalable solution that transforms the way residential chargers are brought online. It automates what was once a tedious, multi-step process, and replaces it with a flow that is guided, intelligent, and reliable. With our integration layer serving as the backbone, Zero Config enables a frictionless experience, bridging field operations and backend systems with precision and confidence.